UK PM rules out resignation

Brown says he will stay on as prime minister to help Britons through the recession.

21 Jun 2009 01:48 GMT

Brown fights to reassert his authority after weeks of dire poll ratings and rebellion within his party [AFP]

Brown trails the centre-right Conservatives by up to 20 per cent in the opinion polls with less than a year before the next parliamentary election.

Facing the pressure

Brown’s government has been under pressure for weeks after newspapers printed leaked details of politicians' extravagant and often inappropriate claims for public money to pay for things like pornographic films, horse manure and cookies.

Voters' anger was compounded on Thursday when officials finally published the expenses claims in a heavily censored format with black marks covering key details.

A number of ministers have resigned from Brown's government, with some blaming his personal style for Labour's demise.

The former finance minister has survived calls from senior colleagues to resign to give their party a fighting chance of winning an unprecedented fourth straight election win.

Brown reshuffled his top ministerial team for the second time in eight months after his centre-left Labour Party fared badly in European and local elections on June 4.

With public trust in politicians at a low, Brown said MPs must work hard to restore people's faith.

He urged members of his centre-left Labour to spend part of their summer holidays in the areas they represent in parliament.

"I think MPs (members of parliament) will be wanting to be in their constituencies for a lot of time, talking to people," he told the News of the World.